Wing Chun Kung Fu - Elbow Force

Chu Shong Tin (9/2001)

At the time when I followed Grandmaster Ip Man in learning Wing Chun, Ip
alwaysemphasized on the important of [Elbow Force]. Therefore, I believe, for those
WingChun followers who had been personally taught by Ip, should have heard and
seen theexplanations and demonstrations of the purpose of [Elbow Force]. For those
who havenot fully understand [Elbow Force], only concentrate on the usage of
[Elbow Force] withTau Sau and Bong Sau and neglect the fact that [Elbow Force] can
be used with anytechniques in Wing Chun.During all these years at the seminars
that I have done all over the world, I alwaysdemonstrated the skill of the [Elbow
Force]. The most remarkable one was in 1986 atAdelaide in Australia when I
demonstrated the Wing Chun stance on one leg. At thattime, I was pushed by three
westerners from the same direction towards me when I wasstanding on one leg. My
stance was not affected by their pushing. Again on the 5th of November 1999 at the
1st World Ving Tsun Conference organized by the Ving TsunAthletic Association, two
heavy foreigners joined together to push towards me. Thistime, I stood on a scale
and could transfer their force and it showed on the scale that Iwas about a hundred
pounds heavier. (As shown in the photo above.)Another time, it was the 12th of June
1994 when I had a seminar in Holland. I used the[Elbow Force] in the Chum Kiu
technique and overpowered a young Negro. (The youthhas a huge physical build
and has a nickname of Black Mountain.)

This display obtained the shouts of triumph from everybody present on that
occasion.Unfortunately, those followers of Wing Chun who do not understand the
Wing ChunKung Fu deep enough had later criticized the skill of the Wing Chun
[Elbow Force] I haddemonstrated as acting. This is really laughable.The skill in the
[Elbow Force] can be described as 'difficult to understand but easy towork on' or
'easy to understand but difficult to work on'. Since I started the Wing ChunTea Party
up till now, for those who have inquired about the [Elbow Force], I can correctthem
to get the right feeling and the power of the [Elbow Force]. As long as one canrelax
the muscle, one can comprehend the profoundness of the [Elbow Force] and
besurprise of the strange ability of the [Elbow Force]. In order to reach the desired
effect,one needs an instructor who understands the skill and the most important
part is thepatient and constant training.[Elbow Force] is only one of the skills of this
profound Wing Chun system. Eachform has its own hidden skillful techniques.
Therefore, I hope that practitioners will notconcentrate only on the application of
the movements. They should study in depth theunique skills of Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Through this, the advance Wing Chun Kung Fucan be unleashed and the essence of
Wing Chun Kung Fu can be disclosed to the world.